What's in a Name?

Share What's in a Name? on Facebook Share What's in a Name? on Twitter Share What's in a Name? on Linkedin Email What's in a Name? link

Consultation has concluded

Nameless green DPR sign that just says "Park"

Mayor Bowser has created the DC Facilities and Commemorative Expressions (DCFACES) Working Group to study the named assets in DC on a citywide level to identify names where the individual whom the asset is named after contributed to the oppression of communities of color and systemic racism. This working group will issue recommendations to Mayor Bowser in the fall and is looking at the following buckets of assets:

  • District-owned streets
  • District-owned buildings
  • District-owned parks
  • Statues in District-owned parks
  • Other named public spaces

Take the Mayor's survey now to ensure your voice is heard in this larger District-wide process!

While this group will be researching and assessing named DPR sites, we know that there are a lot of DPR sites that also have no name, especially many of our small parks. Many of these are referred to in our inventory by simply the Reservation number of the land or the intersection on which the park resides. DPR wants to use this opportunity and this moment in time to change that. We want to hear your ideas on new names for these spaces. If there is a park in your neighborhood, or anywhere in the city, where you think you have a better name than a simple geographic marker, let us know by using the tools below.

Mayor Bowser has created the DC Facilities and Commemorative Expressions (DCFACES) Working Group to study the named assets in DC on a citywide level to identify names where the individual whom the asset is named after contributed to the oppression of communities of color and systemic racism. This working group will issue recommendations to Mayor Bowser in the fall and is looking at the following buckets of assets:

  • District-owned streets
  • District-owned buildings
  • District-owned parks
  • Statues in District-owned parks
  • Other named public spaces

Take the Mayor's survey now to ensure your voice is heard in this larger District-wide process!

While this group will be researching and assessing named DPR sites, we know that there are a lot of DPR sites that also have no name, especially many of our small parks. Many of these are referred to in our inventory by simply the Reservation number of the land or the intersection on which the park resides. DPR wants to use this opportunity and this moment in time to change that. We want to hear your ideas on new names for these spaces. If there is a park in your neighborhood, or anywhere in the city, where you think you have a better name than a simple geographic marker, let us know by using the tools below.

Stories of names

We want to collect a list of names of great Washingtonians who have made the District a better place for people of all races, ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and abilities. Feel free to share a story about someone or something you think would make a good name. 

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.